Blowout further straps Tigers bullpen, headed into doubleheader

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Al Alburquerque reacts as Cleveland Indians’ Jason Kipnis rounds the bases after his three-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Friday, July 18, 2014.
CARLOS OSORIO — The Associated Press

DETROIT >> There were large stretches of the first half of the season where Brad Ausmus was concerned about overusing certain parts of his bullpen because other parts were caving in.

Now, the biggest concern is overusing a bullpen that won’t get much time off in the next two months, with 55 games in 55 days, including as many doubleheaders (three) as off days.

“You can’t predict how the games are going to go, but you certainly have to be concerned about the bullpen. There’s not a ton of off days, and doubleheaders can really take a toll — although you’re allowed to call up a 26th man for the bullpen, but often that ends up being a starter,” Ausmus said Friday.

“You do have keep a long-term perspective with the pitching staff.”

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That concern was merely underlined Friday night, when he was forced to go to the bullpen five times in a game that had been low-scoring into the seventh inning, and even had a seventh pitcher warming up in the ninth.

Ian Krol, Al Alburquerque and Blaine Hardy all took the mound after Anibal Sanchez couldn’t record an out in the seven-run seventh inning. Chad Smith threw 37 pitches in the ninth inning, trying to get the Tigers through the frame without using Joba Chamberlain.

And the Tigers have a doubleheader Saturday, with a rookie making his big-league debut in the opener.

“With the exception of Smith, we used them but we used them very lightly,” Ausmus said. “All of them really threw an inning or less so they’d be available tomorrow, which is why we had to keep getting them out of there after an inning, knowing we had two games tomorrow.”

Smith needed two days’ rest after the last time he threw 30-plus pitches, on June 29 in Houston, so the team’s most likely long reliever won’t be available should Drew VerHagen falter Saturday afternoon.

Tigers relievers have thrown the second-fewest innings in baseball (254.2), but have the fifth-worst bullpen ERA (4.38) and are tied for the worst batting average against (.272). Three different Tigers relievers — Alburquerque (46), Chamberlain (41) and Krol (41) — rank in the top 32 in relief appearances in the American League, with Alburquerque tied for the league lead.

“It was underwhelming early. The last couple games it was underwhelming. But we had some good outings in between there. I think the overall numbers are underwhelming, but I certainly expect Joe (Nathan) to be a lot better — and has been better, but I expect him to be even better in the second half of the season. Joba’s been good. Albie actually pitched pretty well most of the time, but he’s just had a couple outings recently that weren’t great,” Ausmus said.

“Overall, underwhelming at times, but I think we’re moving in the right direction. The pen was getting better. I think the first month of the season, the pen underperformed. I think there should be a correction in the second half as a result.”

About the Author

Detroit Tigers beat writer for The Oakland Press in Pontiac, Michigan. Mowery has spent 18 years covering sports, from preps to pros. He’s been honored with more than 25 awards for writing. Reach the author at matt.mowery@oakpress.com
or follow Matthew B. on Twitter: @MatthewBMowery.